Has anyone heard of or used a program called ScareAware, which uses trace scanning to find rouge malaware in less than 60 seconds? Those interested to learn more about it can do so at (but I do not recommend using it for the faint of heart or without reading all the information prior to using) http://www.softpedia.com/get/A.....ware.shtml

I'd like to find other software like this one, since this scan is way to fast IMHO, Mindblower!

"Light travels faster than sound;
That is why some people seem bright until you hear them speak"

That's a tiny data base for a security program and explains why the scan would be so fast.

Scareware is used to report fictional infections in the hope of 'scaring' the user into paying for security software which is completely useless (non-functional). The biggest problem is that most rogue software is also malware itself and I do not believe ScareAware would be effective once that malware has already been activated. These infections generally disable Windows Explorer features and disallow access to many areas of the computer making it impossible to run installed software, including security programs. Often, the only solution is to work outside the operating system using a bootable rescue disc such as the one available from Kaspersky: http://www.techmixer.com/kaspersky-resc ... using-dos/ and even then success cannot be guaranteed.

This from the ScareAware site:
[i:hih0v4wy][b:hih0v4wy]What is Scareware?[/b:hih0v4wy]
Scareware, also known as SmitFraud or Rogues, is fraudulent security software designed to scare you into thinking your computer is infected and forcing you to buy the fake product for a hefty price

Yes Dave, I did try out the program and was NOT impressed. So far it has conflict problems with a/v programs. Kaspersky goes ballistic. This information is given as you are installing (bad form). Also best to install from Safe Mode as protection software is not loaded. Received a false positive (for an infection, but no removal work was done). Am informed that this trace scanning is included in Malwarebytes' anti-malaware and a few others.

The only conclusion I can reach is that this program needs to find something wrong and then let you know it removed the problem. ScareAware is a scary program IMHO. BTW, I installed and ran it in SafeMode. When I rebooted and uninstalled it in Normal Mode, Kaspersky still raised Red Flags, Mindblower!

"Light travels faster than sound;
That is why some people seem bright until you hear them speak"

David Hartsock

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March 14, 2010 - 7:44 pm

I'm sorry Mindblower. What I was getting at is EVERY security program uses "trace scanning". In this instance I think it is marketing speak. They are all scanning for a trace of something bad. If you have a virus that makes 100 registry entries and drops 14 files on your computer all won't be searched for. It would take forever. The main different between something like this and a full fledged AV type product is how many infections the software is looking for, which accounts for the time difference.

Mindblower

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March 15, 2010 - 10:58 am

That's correct Dave (that almost all anti-malware software does trace scanning within their scans). Having a software that just does the trace scanning would be an important tool to those who are infected and require immediate removal (something ultra fast makes perfect sense - if it works correctly). BTW, this one is Freeware - so it should be a wonderful fighting addition.

What I find upsetting are the screen presentations and the false positive (I receive each time I install and run it). Knowing my computer is free of malware , I'd like to compare it's ability to other quick trace scanning programs. My search has not revealed any other software, but maybe someone else has better luck (it's a vast net out there ). Thanks for the info, Mindblower!

"Light travels faster than sound;
That is why some people seem bright until you hear them speak"